Northeast, Northridge, Piedmont, Ranson, Sedgefield, Southwest and South Charlotte combined with JM Alexander to collect 1,270 bags for a total of 6,352 pounds of recyclables, which is over three tons of recyclables!

"Allowing EnCap to substitute 'recyclables' for dredge would mean a huge economic windfall for EnCap, less environmental benefit, and could result in criticism due to the concessions DEP made," Brand wrote.

Yet as more people separate glass, plastic and newspapers for recycling, markets have become so glutted that the price of these materials has plummeted, forcing some communities to pay to have "recyclables" carted to a landfill.

The biggest question is: What is more harmful to the environment and causes "global rewarming or melting of snow" ... the gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing automobile trips taking recyclables to the "drop-off center" or the "recyclables" themselves?